Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei head home

A citizen runs in front of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

They are the second batch of Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei to return home since the mainland airliner flew the first batch of 247 people back to the island on Feb. 3.

WUHAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- More Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei Province, epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, headed home Tuesday evening.

They are the second batch of Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei to return home since the mainland airliner flew the first batch of 247 people back to the island on Feb. 3, according to an official with the Hubei provincial Taiwan affairs office. 

As of Sunday, a total of 1,169 Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei had applied for assistance to return home.

The official said certain politicians in Taiwan have been obstructing the transport of these people back to the island.

"We hope airliners on the two sides can make further arrangements as soon as possible to help take all of the remaining stranded Taiwan compatriots back home," the official said. ■